Machine tool



C. W. HOPKINS MACHINE TOOL March 25, 1952 6 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Nov. 19; 1948 C. W HOPKINS MACHINE TOOL 6 Sheets sheet 2 Filed Nov. 19, 1948 March 25, 1952 v c. w. HOPKINS 2,590,102

MACHINE TooL Filed Nov. 19, 1948 6 SheeizS-Sheet 3 2a 9e v 5 94 9o 92 74 T V202 205 |56 78 so 76 8022 422 s4 as 4'8 v 42o a4 I 49a 2 41e as 186 se 2o6\ @|62 l 212 20s l 41ov c www cEclL w. HOPKINS www@ March 25, 1952 c. w. HOPKINS MACHINE Toor.

Filed NOV. 19. 1948 5f Sheets-Sheet 4 me/who@ CECL W. HOPKINS C. W. HOPKINS MACHINE TOOL 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed NOV. 19, 1948 me/who@ CEC L W. HOPKINS 4 O 0488 6 2 6 220.l O O www0 3 .u GAIN. i 2 2 62 0 5&3 238 45 4 6 3 6 33 3 243 3m 0 4 3 8 5 l 3 U 3 2 d 2 2 0 3 44 33 3M 3 2 6 3, 0 6 3 w 3w\ Q 3 3MT 6 a o l O www 3333 8 282 8 w.. OM 890% 8 3 44 3344 3 www MACHINE TOOL Filed NOV. 19, 1948 6 SheetS-Sheet 6 'jme/nm ji CECIL w. HOPKINS we ,M fffm @www Patented Mar. 25, 1952 MACHINE 'rooL Cecil W.- Hopkins, Waynesboro,l Pa., assignor to Landis Machine Company, Waynesboro, Pa., a corporation of Pennsylvania Application November 19, 1948', Serial No. 61,018 1.7 claims. (Gis1- ical This. invention relates to improvements in means for actuating a reciprocating member of a inachine tool and has particular reference. to automatic infeed mechanism for centerless grinding'machines'.

The device embodying my invention obviates many of the disadvantages' inherent in vsimilar, mechanisms now in use. One such disadvantage is.l the fact' that, in the prior art mechanisms, the control wheel ismade to rotate continuously, regardless of the movements of the feeding mechanism. This'cften results in defectiveV work i for the reason that the workA begins to rotate under influence of the control wheel before the feeding movement has closed the distance between grinding and control wheels far enough to contain the-.work piece in proper axial alignment, withthe result that one end of the workv is often thrown in contact with the grinding wheel and damaged. In my invention, the control wheel is caused to start and stop with the infeed movement. This is important especially inthe grinding of threads, where the amount of feed for the actual grinding loperation is much greater than that for surface grinding. When a thread grinding operation by the infeed method is finished, the work piece must be withdrawn a distance equal" to the depthv ofv the thread beforeit is entirely'clear ofthe grinding wheel, whilefin grinding' a cylinder or the like, the slightest rearward movement of the infeed mechanism clears the work piece from thev grinding wheel entirely.

My device `has theffurther advantage-of provid'- ing a gradually decreasing rate of feed' as the grindingv operation proceeds. This is also of especial importance' in the grinding of threads. At the beginningl of a thread grinding operation the amountof actual grinding being done isl comparatively very small, and the rate of feed can consequently be large. As the operation proceeds, more and more ofJ the surface of the grinding wheel comes into operation and the feed should be' correspondingly slowe'd'. I

The hereinafter described automatic infeed device isl capable of being disconnected and' rendered inoperative when desired for the operation ofthe machine under manual'- feed, for dressing the control wheel or for anyv other reason.

An object of the invention is theA provision of improved means for reciprocatingv aA feeding memberA of a machine tool to effe'ctvthe proper feeding movement between aiwork piece` and tool.

Another object` of thel invention is' the-, provi'- sion. ofi improved mechanism for automatically reducing' the: rateA of feed as the operation;V progresses: so that` the initial advance of the feeding. member'is quite rapid and the rate of feed gradually'appr'oa'ches zero'as the operation nears completion. i

A further object isy to provide novel means for changing the speed of rotation of the controlV wheellof al c'enterless grinding machine according to the methodV used for carrying out the grinding operation; Y

Another object. is'V t'o provide simple and effectivesmeans'forv effecting the proper feeding move'- mentbyv a combinationA of electrical and hydraulic systems.v

A further. object of the invention is to enable the same? machine to operate selectively with an automaticv feed, a manual' feed or nok feed at'all.

Astill' further object is the provision of a control/circuit which will,yamong other things, stop the rotation of the control wheel after eachv feeding operation. and which will start` rotation of the control wheel at the beginning of each feeding operation.

Other objects andi advantages will be apparent from the. following' description of an embodiment of the invention in combination with the accom'- pany-ing drawings, in which Figure 1 is a partial side elevation of afcenter-l less grinding machine with the improved mechanism' applied thereto,

FigureA 2iis a partial plan v-iew of the-machine,

Figure' is a fragmentary-vertical section along linef 3--3 of Figure 2,

Figure iisr a fragmentary vertical section along line 4-4 of'Figure 2,

Figure-5`is a fragmentary vertical section along line 5-5'of Figure 3,

Figure' is a partial end elevation of the parts shown in Figure 3,

Figurev 'lfisr a fragmentary vertical section along line 1`1 of'Figure 6,

Figure 8 is a fragmentary vertical section along line 8--8 of Figure 1'0, with certain parts omitted for clarity,

Figure 9' is a fragmentary horizontal section on. alsomewhat enlarged side along' line 9-9' of Figure 8,.withV certain parts omitted for clarity,l

Figure 101 is a. fragmentary vertical sec'tion along' line IU|0` of Figure 8' with certain parts omitted for: clarity,

Figure 11l is a detail elevation showing theinf'eed operating lever', andv Figure 12:15. a diagram of theele'ctro-hydraulic' control circuit for the machine. n The invention is capable of generalus'effonef'- fecting ad feeding movement' of a reciprocating member or slide and is not to be interpreted as restricted to the use of a centerless grinding machine which has been chosen for purposes of illustration. The invention will accordingly be described in conjunction with the centerless grinding machine shown in the drawings which comprises a bed 28 upon one side of which is supported in the usual manner a grinding. wheel 22. A main slide member 24 is mounted upon bed 29 for reciprocation toward and from grinding wheel 22 in a direction perpendicular to the axis of said grinding wheel.

The upper surface of the main slide 24 is formed with a dovetail 26 (Figure 4) which engages a mating recess in the lower surface of a control wheel slide 28 which is thus mounted on main slide 24 for reclprocation relative thereto and also in a .direction perpendicular to the axis of grinding wheel 22. As shown in Figure 2, the control wheel slide 28 has secured thereto by means not shown a housing 29. This housing, in which the control wheel is supported, is mounted so that the axis of the control wheel may be adjustably inclined relative to the fixed horizontal axis of the grinding wheel 22. Such mounting means is old in the art and need not be described here. The dresser mechanism for the control wheel, shown in Figures l and 2 is not an essential part of the present invention.

- The control wheel housing 29 (Figure 8) is provided with-a transverse bearing portion 30 in which is mounted, upon ball bearings 32 a control wheel spindle 34. Spacing members 36 and 438 surround spindle 34 and maintain the inner and 'outer races respectively of bearings 32 in proper spaced apart relation. At the forward end of bearing portion 39, bearing 32 is retained therein by means of a cap member 40 which is secured to1portion 30 by screws 42. Spindle 34 is held axially immovable by the engagement of its integral enlarged portion 44 with the forward bearing 32 and by the lock-nuts 46 threadedly engaged on spindle 34 adjacent the rearward bearing 32. A sealing member 48 is provided between enlarged portion 44 and cap member 40 to retain lubricant in the bearing and to prevent the entry of foreign matter, particularly grinding dust.

Forwardly of enlarged portion 44, spindle 34 is formed with a reduced, sharply tapered portion 50 upon which is secured, by means of a screw 52 and washer 54, a control wheel hub 56. At its rear end the hub 56 is formed with a diametrically enlarged portion 58 provided with the external annular flange 60. The part 58 of the hub is fitted within one end of the central circular opening `of a control wheel 62 with the flange in abutting contract against the adjacent side face of the wheel.y An annular member 64 is telescopically fitted over the other end of the hub 56 and within the opposite end of the opening of the control wheel, said member having a flange 66 for abutting contact against the front face of said wheel. This member 64 is connected with, the part 58 of the hub 56 by means of the screws 68, whereby the hub and member 64 are rigidly connected against relative rotation and with their anges 60 and 66, respectively, in tight clamping contact with the opposite faces of the control wheel 62. The member .56 is also formed with a series of open ended slots or recesses 10, circumferentially spaced apart to 'constitute the female elementv of a clutch mechanism. f

j, The aforementioned 'clutch mechanism'may be used when desired to operate the control wheel 62 by manual means as shown in the patent to Arthur Scrivener, No. 2,427,024. Such mechanism is not a part of the present invention and reference is made to the above patent for a description thereof.

Thus it is seen that the control wheel 62 is mounted for rotation on the control wheel slide 28, and is movable toward and from the grinding Wheel 22 relative to the main slide 24 and the bed 2U. The main slide 24 supports, in the grinding throat between grinding wheel 22 and control wheel 62, a work rest mechanism 12 which may be the same as that shown in the patent to Cecil W. Hopkins, No. 2,417,413, to which reference is made for a complete description of this mechanism. When the position of the work rest I2 relative to grinding wheel 22 has been adjusted by the movement of main slide 24. said slide may be locked in wel) known manner to slide 28 so that the two slides operate as a unit with control wheel 62 and work rest '|2 to feed work pieces toward the grinding wheel in a manner to be describedbelow.

As shown in Figure 3, the control wheel slide 28 is provided in its interior with an upwardly projecting boss 'I4 in which a feed screw nut 16 is journalled for rotation. Nut 'i6 is formed with a ange I8 on one end. A pair of thrust bearings 88 are mounted upon nut 16 adjacent the opposite ends of boss 74. The nut 16 and bearings 80 are retained in xed position axially, relative to boss '14, by means of the flange 18 and a pair of lock nuts 82 threadedly engaged on the opposite end of nut 16. The feed screw 84 is threaded through the nut '|6. It will be understood that relative rotation between feed screw 84 and nut 16 will have the effect of moving the slide 28 toward or away from the grinding wheel 22.

A worm wheel 86 is secured to the outer or forward surface of ange 18 by means of screws 88. Worm wheel 86 is in constant mesh with a worm 90 which is mounted upon the shaft 92. A key 94 insures the unitary rotation of worm 90 and shaft 92. Another upstanding boss 96 supports one end of the shaft 92 as seen in Figures 3 and 4. A needle bearing 98 is provided between boss 96 and shaft 92 for the elimination of friction. Shaft 92 extends laterally from boss 96 through the forward wall of slide 28 in which it is supported by a ball bearing |00 (Figure 4). An annulus |92 is secured to the forward wall of slide 28 by means of screws |84 in order to retain bearing |90 in proper axial position. A spacing member |06 is mounted on shaft 92 between bearing |80 and worm 90. Bearing |90, spacer |86 and worm 99 are held against axial movement between a nut |08 threaded upon shaft 92 rearwardly adjacent worm 90 and a forward. enlarged portion ||0 of shaft 92. A sealing member ||2 is mounted in the wall o1' slide 28, rearwardly adjacent bearing |00 for the retention of lubricant in said bearing.

Forwardly of portion H6, shaft 92 is further f provided with a diametrically enlarged head portion I|4 which is received in a recess in the forward surface of a plate I6 which is thus mounted concentrically with shaft 92. A ring member I8 is also mounted on shaft 92 rearwardly of plate I6 to which said ring is secured by screws |20. vA key |22 joins ring ||8 and shaft 92 for unitary rotation. A second ring member |24 is mounted upon plate ||6 for rotation thereabout and is held axially between a shoulder |26 on slot plate |`|6land the. forwardV surface. of ring |18.. The-z periphery of' ringil241 is beveled and isy pro'- and` thus. provide an` index point from whichA the rotation of ring |24 mayl be measured. l

A circular T-slot |34 isy formed in the ring H8' to receive' a. block |36. locking screw |38 extends is: threade'dlyv engaged with the.` block* |36 in' T- |34. Bythis means,` unitary rotation-k of` ring. H78v and ring. |24 may be achieved.v by tight.- ening screw |38 orring |124 maybe rotated sepa-y rately by4 releasing screw |38.. Rotation of ring |24.` isl accomplished. by' means of a handle |482 threaded thereinto'. A screw |42 is threaded into the centerV of. the.. forward end of shaftfS-z and is provided with. a. bevel'. |44 on onesidel off' the inner end thereof toV engage the end of a: similarly beveled, radially directed pin |46. Pin |46 extends from the center.A of shaft 92 to the interior surface of. a counterbore |48 in the forward wall of slide 28, in which counterbore the annulus. |02 is. also located. It will be seen. that. tightening. the screw |42 will force pin |46 radially` outward to. exert a clamping; force.` against. the surface of c'ounterborev |48 and thusy prevent rotation. of: shaft 92. The abovedescribed mechanism. is, for the purpose of manually rotating shaft` 82 and thus manually'feeding the.l control wheel toward the. grinding wheel 22 orA withdrawing it therefrom. at'- a slow rate of speed for the fine. adjustment. of the width of the grinding throat. be-

tween the grinding and control wheels. For quick,A `approximate. adjustments of relatively greaterA dimensions,y the feed. screw 84- may be rotated muchmore rapidlyby the. use-of a. suitable w-rench in cooperation with thev wrench socket |49 in the extreme rearward end of the. feed screw (Fig. 6)... p

The mechanism for effecting, an automatic in.- feed of the control wheel is more clearly shown in` Figures 3, 5,v 6 and` 7. There it will be seen that a' brackety |50 having a large {depending portion |52 is mounted upon. the righthand edge of. bedby means of screws |54. rIhe upper portion ofbracket |50 is provided with a large hollow boss |56 in which is mountedvfor axial sliding movement a. cylindrical member |58.. The boss` |56 is closed atV its front-and rear ends by the cap members |60 and. |62. respectively which are secured to said. boss. by the screws |64 and, |66 respectively. As seen. in Figure '7,4 the cylinder |.58.is of less length than boss |56', as indicated. by the space |68, to permit limited axial movement of the cylinder between capmembers |60 and. |82; Sealing members |10l and |212' are` mounted for the protection of. the mechanism in cap members |60 and |62 respectively and surrounding feed screw 84 which extends through the cap membersand cylinder |58.

That portion of, feed screw 84 which extends through cylinder |58.` is unthreaded except near the rear` end thereof where it is` threaded to receive a lock' nut |14. Thrust bearings |16 are mounted in opposite ends of cylinder |58 to eliminate frictionbetween the rotating screw 84 and the non-rotating cylinder |58. Thrust bearings |16 are retained axially byl means of a shoulder |18 and locknut |`14 on the shaft 84. The cylinder |58 is held againstrotation by a key' |88. A pair of' set screws I 82 are mounted in the boss |56 to engage a attened surface. |84` of cylinder member |58. When tightened; screws |82'l pre- A manually operated through. ring |28A and;

|99 for cooperative engagement with a similarly beveled. radially directed. pin |62. Pin |92. extends inwardly intor frictional contact with. feed screw 8.4. Screw |86 is, loosened when. it is desired to effect' a. rapid adjustment inthe posi-tion of the. control. wheelgslidc- 28 by making.' use of the wrench socket. |49xas described above. Screw |86 is tightened' to. prevent relative rotation between feed screw 8.4 vand cylinder |58 during the use of the. automatic infeed mechanism when it is. necessary to prevent rotation of the feed screw relative to the nut 16.

Slots |94 are formed in opposite sides of. the cylindrical' member.l |58 and have a pair of shoes |96 mounted1 therein. As seen in Figure 5, space is provided for vertical movement of shoes |86 in slots |94 and within thebcre of boss. |58. In the. sides of bossv |56 and in alignment with the slots. |94 in cylinder |58 a pair of pins |98 are journalled for' rotation. Pinsv |98 have diametrically reduced eccentric studs 208 which lextend inwardly into suitable. openingsV in thev shoes |96. Thus, it willbeevi'dentiv rotation of pinsv |98 will cause the axialmovementof cylinder |58'.

A pair ofv levers `202` are mounted upon the ends of pins |98 protruding from the. sides. of boss |56. Levers 262 fare-secured to pins |98 against. relative rotation and axial movement by means of a. pair of taper pins 204 passing there-v through. Levers 282 extend from 4pins |98 upwardly and rearwardly and, as shown in Figures yIl and: 6, are; pivotally connected by pins 206, tc opposite sidesV of a yoke member 208. The two arms of yoke 208 join beneath boss. |56 and said yoke is threadedly attached to a piston rod 2|0 of a. hydraulic cylinder 2|2 which is pivotally mounted at 2|3 onthe depending portion` |52 of bracket |50. Operation of hydraulic cylinder 2|2, therefore, produces a vertical` movement of yoke. 288 which rocks levers 202, thereby rotating pins |98 and reciprocating cylindrical member 58V which, in turn, reciprocates the control wheel slide.v 28 and the parts carried thereby. To limit. the. upward. travel of yoke 208 and piston rod 2| 0', av screw 2||` is. threaded into yoke 208 and abutsthe exterior of boss |56. Thus the travel of slide 28.` may be adjusted.

As seen in. Eiguref and 7, the shoes |86 are at their lowermost position as are the eccentric studs 200 and the cylinder |58 has been drawn rearwardly to the position seen in Figure 7. It will be4 apparentr tl'iat, as studs 200 are rocked forwardly and upwardly from this position. by yoke 208 and the axis of said studs approaches a horizontal plane intersecting the axis of screw 84.. the constant rotational speed of pins |98 results in a. gradually decreasing linear speed of cylinder |58 and consequently' of slide 28.

As is generally known in the art, it is necessary to rotate. the control wheelV at amuch slower speed for infeed grinding than for that method of grinding known. as through-feed grinding in which the control wheel is not fed toward the grinding wheel but in which the Awork passes` axially between the wheels while the axes of both. wheels are. maintained stationary. It follows that a machine which is to be. used for both methods must include two speed ranges to be selectively applied to they control wheel.

A gear housing 216 for such change speed mechanism is shown in Figure 2 attached to the rear side of the control wheel housing 29. As shown in Figure 8 the spindle 34 extends rearwardly into gear housing 218. Upon said spindle and rearward of locknuts 46 a spacing member 218 is mounted and is keyed to spindle 34 by means of a pin 228. Spacer 218 serves to retain a worm gear 222 upon a hub 224 which is` also mounted upon spindle 34. A needle bearing 226 is interposed between spindle 34 and hub 224 while a key 228 provides a driving connection between hub 224 and worm gear 222.

Bearing 228 is restrained at its rearward end by a spacing member 238 which, together with member 232,` is mounted upon spindle 34 and is driven therewith by means of a key 234. A clutch collar 236 is positioned upon the bushing member 232 and has a driving connection therewith in the form of a key 238 which is made integral with the bushing member 232. Thus the collar 236 always rotates with spindle 34 but is axially movable relative thereto. y

Rearwardly of bushing'member 232 another spacer 248 is mounted on spindle 34 followed by a chain sprocket 242 connected by a suitable drive chain with the control wheel motor (not shown). `Another spacer 244 and locknut 246 complete the assembly, said lock nut being threaded upon the rearward extremity of spindle 34 to hold all the above mentioned parts in proper axial position. A suitable seal 243 surrounds sprocket 242 to prevent leakage of lubricant from shaft bearing 38 into housing 218. It will be noted that the wormgear hub 224 and the chain sprocket are capable of free rotation, that is, neither part is keyed to the spindle 34. Any axial thrust imposed upon hub 224 is absorbed by the spacers 218 and 238 while the thrust of sprocket 242 is transmitted to spacers 248 and 244. A roller bearing 248 is provided for the friction-free rotation of sprocket 242.

The rearward surface of hub 224 and the forward surface of clutch collar 236 are with mating clutch teeth 258 while the rearward surface of collar 236 and the forward surface of sprocket 242 have the mating clutch teeth 252 formed thereon. Thus, it is evident that, since collar 236 is the only one of these three members capable of driving spindle 34, power may be applied to saidvspindle through either hub 224 or sprocket 242 as desired by selectively engaging either of the clutches 258 or 252 respectively. v Clutch collar 236- is provided with a circumferential groove 254 (Figure A vertical shaft 256 is journalled for rotation in the bottom wall of control wheel housing 29 and in the bottom wall of a switch housing 256 which is secured to the top of control wheel housing 29 by means of screws 268. A yoke 252 is secured to shaft 256 against relative rotation by means of a key 264. Yoke 282 is formed with two arms which straddle the clutch collar 236 and in which are mounted two pins 266 and 268. These pins 266 and 268 are provided with integral rectangular blocks 218 and 212 respectively on their inner ends.

The blocks 218 and 212 are engaged in lopposite sides of the groove 254 in clutch collar 236. Thus a rocking movement of yoke 282 about shaft 256 will result in the axial movement of clutch colla-1' 235 to engage the desired clutch teeth as explained above. Such rocking movement of the yoke is accomplished by the following means. The pin 268 extends upwardly from yoke 262 (Figures 8 and 18) and a block 214 is seated formed thereupon. Block 214 is engaged by a rectangular slot 216 in the lower surface of an enlarged, eccentric portion 218 of a stub shaft 288.

The shaft 288 is journalled for rotation in the switch housing member 258 which also serves to cover partially that portion of control wheel housing 29 occupied by the mechanism described immediately above.v A lever 282 is secured to the top end of shaft 288 by means of a pin 284, which also retains the stub shaft 288 in correct axial position. The free end of lever 282 is formed with an upstanding cylindrical extension 286 which is provided with a central bore 288 to receive a spring 298. Spring 298 is retained in bore 288 by a detent 292 having a reduced portion which extends interiorly of the spring and through the top of extension 286 and is frictionally held in or otherwise secured to the top of a hollow handle member 284 which telescopes the extension 286 and may be grasped to raise detent 292 against the pressure of spring 298.

A plate 286 is scecurcd to the top wall of gear housing 216 and is provided with openings 298 which are so positioned as to receive the lowei end of detent 292 at the various positions of rotation of lever 282. Thus, it will be apparent that either of the mating clutch teeth 258 or 252 may be engaged by the rotation of handle 282 and that after such selection of the desired clutch engagement, yoke 262 and clutch collar 236 are locked in axial position by the engagement of detent 282 with one of the openings 298. The switch 259 in housing 258 controls a circuit for the control wheel motor as shown in Figure l2 and is actuated to closed position by arm 251 fixed to the upper end of shaft 256 when clutch collar 236 is engaged with the clutch teeth of sprocket 242.

The worm gear 222 is driven by the'worm 388 whichgas shown in Figure 9 is mounted upon a shaft 382 and lis secured for rotation therewith by a key 384. Worm 388 is held in place axially by the shouldered spacing. bushings 386 which are journalled in a pair of tapered roller bearings 388, provided for the friction-free support of shaft 382. The forward bearing 388 is contained in an opening 318 in a cover plate 312 which is attached to the forward wall of control wheel housing 29 by means of screws 314. A welch plug 316 is provided to close opening 318 and protect the bearing.

The rearward bearing 383 is mounted in a web structure 318 in control wheel housing 29. A bevel gear 328 is mounted on shaft 382 rearwardly of the rearward bearing 388 and is secured for rotation with said shaft by a key 322. A spacer 324 is provided to locate gear 328 at the proper distance from rear bearing 388. The parts mounted on shaft 382 are held axially by means of the enlarged head 326 of said shaft at the rear end thereof and a nut 328 and washer 338 on the forward end thereof.

On the inner side of the end wall of control wheel housing 23 a boss 332 is formed, having an opening 334 for the support of a bushing 336. A taper pin 338 prevents rotation of the bushing 336 wherein is mounted a pair of ball bearings 348, whose inner races are held in spaced apart relation by a spacing member 342. A shaft 344 is journalled for rotation in bearings 348, the axial direction of shaft 344 being perpendicular to the axis of shaft 382. A bevel gear 348 is mounted on the end of shaft 344 in position to mesh with gear 328 on shaft 382. A key 348 insures unitary rotation between shaft 344 and gear 348 while a screw 358 threaded into the end of shaft `9 344, together with a washer 3 52 holds `gear 346 axially against the adjacent bearing 346.

On the opposite side of bushing 336 a differential gear housing 354 is mounted upon shaft 344. A needle bearing 356 is provided between shaft 344 and a reduced axial extension of housing 354 having sprocket teeth 358 formed thereon so that power may be applied thereto from the control wheel motor. As shown in Figure 9 the sprockets 242 and 358 are in"alignment for connection to the control wheel motor by a common drive chain 356. Housing 354 has a relatively large central opening 366 into which the end of shaft 344 extends. This end of shaft 344 is integrally formed with a spur 4gear 362. Across the .opening 366 a shaft 364 vis mounted in the oppo-4 site side walls of housing 354 at `some distance' from the axis of shaft 344 but parallel thereto. Two spur gears 366 and 368 of diierentratio are journalled on shaft 36.4 ,in fixed relation to each other, the gear 3.66 being in constant mesh with gear 362. Aset screw 316 is threaded through a portion of body 354 to secure shaft 364 against rotation.

In the outer wall of gear housing 21.6 there `is mounted, in alignment with .shaft 344, `a twodiameter bushing 312 which is secured against rotation by means of .a key 314. Bushing .312 is formed with a bore, the inward portion of which is tapered to constitute the female element of a conical friction clutch 316. A bearing 3 18 is in,- serted between bushing 312 and the wall of housing 354 to support the latter and to provide for relative rotation between ,the vhousing and bushing 312. A sun gear 386 has an integral .shaft 362 journalled for rotation and axial sliding movement .in `bushing 312. This gear is constantly engaged with gear 368. The shaft 362 is formed with the conical male element of the friction clutch 316.

The inner end of shaft '382 extends beyond gear 386 and is received in .a pilot bearing sleeve 384 mounted in the adjacent end .of shaft 344. This connection insures alignment between shafts 344 and 382. The opposed ends of shafts 344 and 382 are also formed with a shallow two-jaw positive clutch as indicated at 386 so that, when this clutch 386 is engaged, shafts 344 and 382 rotate asa unit.

An annular internally threaded member '388 is secured by screws 396 to the louter wall of gear 'housing 2 I6 and surrounding and concentric with the shaftv 382, vwhich protrudes outwardly therethrough, a flanged nut l392 is threadedly engaged in .member 388 and maybe secured against rotation as desired bythe use of a set screw 394 threaded through member 388 in a radial direction. Nut 362 contains a kball bearing 336 through which shaft y 382 is also journalled.Y A lock nut 368 is threaded upon the extremity of shaft 382 to retain bearing 396 solidly against ashoulder 486 on said shaft. A ring 462 is also seated within nut 362, surrounding locknut 338. A cover plate 464 is secured in the recessed outer side .of nut 392 by vmeans .of screws 466 to substantially close the bearing receiving opening therein. The ring 4,62 presses resiliently against the outer race of bearing 366 -under the influence of a plurality of springs 468 which are mounted in axially parallel recesses in'ring 462 and arev held in compression between said ring and cover plate 464.

It will be Anoted that, when nut 392 is screwed inwardly, shaft 382 is moved axially inward by .the engagement of bearing 366 with shoulder 466 on said shaft. It is also evident from the above that such axial advance of shaft 382 `is resilient rather than positive due to the presence of springs 468. .Such resiliency is necessary to eiect the engagement of the jaw clutch 386. When the shaft 382 is withdrawn outwardly b y proper rotation of nut 392, clutch 386 is disengaged and the l.mechanical advantage of the threaded connection between nut 392 and member 388 is utilized to firmly engage the'f-riction clutch 316` whereby shaft 382 is held stationary.

When shaft 382 -is held stationary and gear housing 1354 is rotated through the integral sprocket 358, gears `366 and 368 on shaft 364 re- `volve .about the stationary sun gear 386 and effect the `rotationof gear 362 bygears 368 and 366 .at-a speed greatly reduced from that of gear housing 354. In such a construction. the gears 366 and 386 would have the same number of teeth while gears 362 and 368 would also have the same number of teeth but slightly more than those of gears 366 and 336. When the clutch 386 is engaged and shafts 344 and 3 82 rotate as a unit, gears 366 and 368 tend to rotate `at different speeds but, 4since this is impossible, they lock and rotational speed is transmitted directly from gear `housing 354 to shaft 344.

Thus two different speeds of shaft 344 are selectively produced by the engagement of jaw lclutch 386 or friction clutch 316. `As seen above, power from shaft 344 is transmitted through bevel gears '346 :and ,326, worm 366- and worm gear .22.2

. yto `hub 224 and, with .clutch :teeth 256 engaged,

through collar 236 to control wheel shaft 34, as shown in Figure 8. The slowspeed, of course, is employed `in infeed grinding vwhile the faster speed is used when the grinding is to be done by the through-feed method. The extremely lfast speed obtained by driving the control wheel directly from the motor through sprocket 242 and clutch 252 is Yutilized yfor dressing the control wheel to true its periphery.

The means for automatically controlling the infeed mechanism will now be described. As seen in Figure 3, 5 and 6, a limit switch 4|6 is secured on one side of the bracket 156 by means of screws 4l2. The slot 4I4 vthrough which screws 4t2 pass lpermits the klocation of switch 416 to be adjusted so vthat 4the roller 416 thereof is in proper position .to be engaged vby a cam plate 4I8 which is ,mounted 40n one o f the pins 98, exteriorly of the lever 262 as seen in Figure 5. Screws 426 are employed to secure cam 4| 8ltto klever 262 for unitary rotation therewith. Screws 4.26 pass through the .arcuate slots `422 which permit the rotary .adjustment of cam plate 418 relative to lever 262. Said cam plate can therefore be set to operate switch 416 at 4any desired point in the rotation of lever v262. The purpose of this switch will .appear later in the description.

Preferably, the above described hydraulic actuating means for the feed screw 84 and its control means are enclosed Within a protective casing' 42 as shown in Figures 1 and 2.

. In Figures l and 11 is shown a lever 424 mounted upon the `exterior end of a shaft 426 which passes through a cover plate 428 secured by screws 436 to the front surface of control wheel housing 29. A second lever 432 is mounted upon the interior -end of shaft 426 and is provided on its free end with a roller 434 which depends between the actuating buttons of a pair of switches 436 and 433 mounted one on each side of shaft 426 on' the interior surface of cover plate 426. Thus in the art. In Figure l2, the two main lines of the electrical control system are designated LI and L2 and in the following description it is assumed that the usual circuit connections between these current supply lines and the grinding wheel motor with the customary start and stop switches are provided.

At the beginning of the operation, the control wheel is always located at the position used for through-feed grinding, that is, it is at the limit 'of its stroke toward the grinding wheel which will be designated hereinI as the in position. In order to introduce a work piece between the grinding and control wheels it is iirst necessary to withdraw the control wheel to the opposite or out end of its travel. This position may be adjusted by manual operation of the worm 96.

With the control wheel at the in position, limit switch 4 I Il is closed on its contacts 4 I 0A and no others of the relays shown are energized. In the hydraulic portion of the control system, a pump 444 draws hydraulic iiuid from a reservoir or tank 442 and discharges it through line 444 to a valve VI. This valve is shifted by opposed solenoids SIAV and SIB to deliver fluid under pressure into either of the lines 446 or 448 and thus into either end of hydraulic cylinder 2 I 2 to move slide 28 as above described. If more i'luid than necessary is pumped into line 444, the excess drains back into tank 442 through relief valve 456 -to prevent building up excessive pressures.

To initiate the infeed grinding operation, therefore, with friction clutch 316 and tooth clutch 256 engaged, switch SWI is closed manually. This causes current to flow through the supply line of an electric timer designated T. This current passes from line LI through switch SWI and the timer T to line L2. As is understood in the art there is no immediate consequence of this connection. Closing of ,switch SWI also closes a circuit LI-SWI-R4J-L2 to energize relay R4. Energization of relay R4 closes contacts C4A,

' closing a circuit LI-C4A-C2A-SIB-L2 which energizes solenoid SIB. Solenoid SIB operates valve VI to allow fluid to pass from line 444 through valve VI, line 448 and check valve 452 into the lower end of cylinder 2I2. This forces the piston and piston rod 2I6 upwardly, rocking levers 262 to move control wheel slide 28 outwardly and thus to place the control Wheel in the out positionso that a work piece may be placed in the machine. The upper end of cylinder 2I2 is at the same time, connected through line 446, valve VI and line 456 to discharge into tank 442. As control wheel slide 26 movesoutwardly the limit switch 4I is operated to open contacts 4IOA and Yclose contacts MGB; Energization of relay R4 also opens contactsCIB and C40 so the reversal of switch 4I@ has no immediate effect.

Energization of relay R4 also closes contactsv C4D with no eect. Contacts C4E open with no `effect unless the control wheel had been rotating 12 previously, in which case the Wheel stops as will be explained later.

Next, switch 436 is closed by lever 424 (Figure l1). This closes a circuit L I -SW I-CT--43 8-43 6-R2-L2 energizing relay R2 and closing contacts CZB whichy are associated therewith, to provide a holding circuit for relay R2 independent of switch 436. The energization of relay R2 also opens contacts CZA, opening the circuit lto deenergize solenoid SIB.v ContactsCZC close,

closing a circuit LI-C4A-C2C-SIA-L2 to energize solenoid SIA. Solenoid SIA displaces the piston of valve VI so that fluid from line 444 is permitted to enter line 446, forcing the piston of cylinder 2I2 downwardly and rocking levers 202 in the clockwise direction as seen in Figure 3, which, as above explained, causes the control wheel slide to move toward the grinding wheel.

Since the speed of this motion will vary with different grinding conditions a means is provided to adjust the speed to the desired value. The lower end of cylinder 2I2 exhausts through line 448, regulating valve 458, valve VI and line 456. Regulating valve 458 can be manually set to permit a desired quantity of uid to pass; thus retarding the speed of the piston in cylinder` 2I2 to the deenergizing relay R3. Energization of relay R3 closes contacts C3A in the control wheel motor control circuit and thus closes'a circuit energizing relay RI. The contacts designated OL are the contacts of a thermal overload relay, the heating element OLH of which is conventionally installed in the control wheel motor` power circuit. The contacts CBA are closed by the energization of relay R8 in the control wheel motor power circuit, which relay is the conventional low voltage protection relay for a D. C. motor and which keeps contacts CSA closed at all times while the machine is in operationunless current does not iiow through the shunt eld 460 of the control Wheel motor, in which case relay R8 is also deenergized to open contacts CBA and stop the motor to prevent excessive and dangerous increase in motor speed as is well understood in the art.

The energization of relay RI closes contacts CIA in the motor power circuit and allows current to flow through the armature 462, commutator iield 464 and series field 456 of the control wheel motor. This current is under the control of any electronic D. C. motor starting device of the conventional type and for the proper starting of the motor, the line L5 is connected to the center tap of the anodeV transformer secondary, while line LS is connected to the cathodes Vof the field voltage tubes and line L1 to the cath- 1:3 speed of the motor, line lL8 leads to the voltage regulator tubes and line L9 is connected Y to `the cathode of the voltage control tube, es is also vgenerally understood.

The shunt eld 432 is connected in parallel with the conventional held discharge resistance .468, while the usual dynamic brake 470 is connected across the armature 462 and commutatoreld 454 of the motor. A normally closed con tactor CIB is connected in series with vthe dynamic brake 470 and is opened when relay RI is energized. Therefore closing of relay RI `p roduces starting current through the armature 482 and the commutator eld 464 while simultaneously releasing the dynamic brake 470 so that the motor starts.

`For the grinding operation, the speed of the control wheel motor is governed by the rheostat 4 12 but limited by a iixed minimum speed for which the series-connected rheostat v474 vis set. It is further apparent that, vby reason of `the above-described method of operation, the control wheel begins to rotate only at the instant it is needed and not before.

f Energization of relay R3 also closes contacts CS B which closes the trip circuit between timer ','I and line L2. Aiter a predetermined interval, .during which the grinding operation `is accomplished, and which interval is set manually at vthe dial 454 (Figure 1), the timer T will now operate to open the normally closed contacts CT thus interrupting the circuit LI-SWI-CT- ,438-C2B-.-R2L2. and dcenergizing relay R2. With relay R2 deenergized, contacts ,C2G open and deenergize solenoid Si A by opening the circuit Ll-cliA-fCCfiA-LE. At the same time contacts 02A return to their normallyclosed Wheel.

position and close the circuit LI-CllA- CZA- f SI B-.- L 2, energizing solenoid Si B. Energization .of SIB, as above explained, effects the prompt withdrawal of the control wheel to out position.

This withdrawal again .operates limit :Switch .4m to open contacts 4I QA and close contacts 4IIlB. This opens the circuit LI-4IOA--C'4D- R3--L2, deenergizing relay R3. Therefore contacts 03B open, breaking the timer trip circuit Iand resetting the timer contacts CT.

Contacts CSA open, opening the circuit L3- OL-CSA-PBZ-CSA-Ri-Lfl and deenergizing relay RI. This causes the control wheel to stop vrotating by opening contacts C A 4in the motor larmature circuit and by closing contacts CIB in the brake circuit. Thus the control wheel Ais again withdrawn and stopped to allow -removal .of the iinished work and remains in this position until switch 436 is again operated to repeat the cycle.

l When it is desired to change ,to the through feed .grinding process, switch SWE is opened, opening circuit Li-SWIe-Rfi-LE and deenergizing Arelay R4. This causes contacts C4B and C4C to close, closing a circuit LE4IiiB.-G4B- OdC-RZ-Ld and energizing relay R2. Contacts CZA open, opening circuit LI-CIB--CZAF- SIBf-LZ and deenergizing solenoid SIB. Contacts CZCclose to close the circuit- LZfgIi'IIlBTm C4B-C2C-SlA--L2, thus energizing solenoid ASIA. and returning the ,slide 23 and the control Wheel to the in" position for through-feed grinding.

It will be seen from Fig. l2 that current through the two rheostats 472 and 474, -which control the Vgrinding speed of the control wheel, .depends u pcn the closure ,Si contacts QLC. and

.CID `which are vclosed when relay :Rl l.is not enersized. Relay .Rl is energized by the closing .of limit switch 259, mentioned above, Which closes only when the speed change lever 282 is rotated into the proper position to provide the correct speed for dressing the control wheel. It will also be seen that energization of relay R1 will close contacts C'IA and C1B while opening contacts C'iC and CID. The latter pair of contacts then prevent current from passing through rheostats 412 and 414 while the former pair permit current to pass through the rheostat 416 by means of which the speed of the control wheel `motor is governed during the dressing operation. Thus an electrical speed increase is added to the mechanical speed increase described above for this operation.

VWhen, asin the case o i failure of the timer mechanism to operate properly, it is desirable or rnecessary to cause the withdrawal o f the control wheel Without relying on the automatic means described above, the lever 424 maybe moved manually to actuate the normally closed switch 43,8. This has the same result as the opening of the timer contacts CT, and the control wheel is consequently withdrawn from the grinding The invention may be embodied in other speciiic forms without departing from the spirit lor essential characteristics thereof. The present embodiment is therefore to be considered in all respects as illustrative 'and not restrictive, the scope of the invention being indicated `,by Athe lappended claims rather than Aby vthe foregoing description, and all changes which come within `the meaning and `range of equivalency of the claims are therefore intended to vbe embraced -A therein.

' Wha-t is claimed and desired to be secured vby United States Letters `Patent is:

1 In -a -machine organization having a tool, means for feeding a Work-piece to said tool cornyprising a reciprocable slide and a work control termined point in the movement of said slide and wheel in work feeding direction.

i 2. In a machine organization as defined in claim l, said mechanism including `Illelrls for progressively decreasing the rate of feeding movement of the slide after contact of .the work piece with the tool.

3. 'In a machine organization having a tool, a reciprocable slide for feeding a Work-piece to said tool, power actuated mechanism operatively connecte-:i to said slide to move the same toward and from said tool, said mechanism including a rectilinearly movable member connected with y said z slide, and eccentric means rotatably engaged ldirectly vvvitlfi said member to impart a rapid initial adyancing movement to the slide, followed upon etective contact of the work-piece with the tool, by a progressively decreasing -rate of feeding movement of the slide.

.4- h1 a ees mechanism .Ier machine. teclea work feeding slide, and operating mechanism for said slide comprising a feedyscrew, a nut carried by the slide threadedly engaged with the screw to advance or retract the slide by relative manual rotation of the nut and feed screw, a hydraulic piston and cylinder assembly, a reciprocable cylinder rotatably supporting said feed screw and means restraining'said screw against axial movementl relative to the cylinder, and eccentric means operable to transmit unitary axial movement to said cylinder Vand feed screw from said piston and cylinder assembly.

5. Work feeding mechanism for machine tools as defined in claim 4, together with additional manually operable means to releasably secure the said f-eed screw against rotation relative to said cylinder.

6. In work feeding mechanism for machine tools, a supporting bracket for attachment to the machine bed, said bracket having a housing portion, a shaft extending axially through said housing and adapted to be operatively connected to a work feeding slide mounted on the machine bed, power operated means carried by said bracket, means in said housing for transmitting axial thrust to said shaft to advance and retract the slide comprising eccentric members mounted in opposite sides of the housing wall, and means operatively connecting said power operated mechanism to said eccentric members.

7. Work feeding mechanism for machine tools as defined in claim 6, wherein said power operated means comprises an hydraulic piston and cylinder assembly pivotally mounted on said bracket.

8. Work feeding mechanism for machine tools as defined in claim 6, wherein said thrust transmittingmeans further comprises a supporting member for said shaft slidably keyed to the housing wall, and thrust transmitting elements carried by the eccentric members and slidably engaged in grooves in opposite sides of said supporting member.

9. Work feeding mechanism for machine tools asd-efined in claim 8, in which said shaft is rotatably mounted in said supporting member l and has a threaded portion for connection with the slide, together with means mounted on said supporting member for releasably securing said shaft against rotation relative to said member.

10. In a centerless .grinding machine having peripherally opposed grinding and control wheels and a work support in the grinding throat be-y tween said wheels, n operating motor for the control whe-el, and riving connections between said motor and the control wheel including selectively operable means to transmit rotation to said wheel at a maximum wheel dressing speed, or at a comparatively low speedfor ifi-feed grinding of a work-piece, or at a relatively higher intermediate speed for through-feed grinding of the work-piece.

11. A centerless grinding machine as defined in claim l0, wherein said selectively operable means comprises a shaft drivingly connected to the control wheel, a differential gear housing rotatably journalled on said shaft anddrivingly connected -with the motor, planetary differential gearing in lsaid housing including a sun'gear and manually operable means for axially shifting said gear, and means operable in one axially shifted position of'lsaid` gear to restrain the same against rotation and transmit rotation from the housing to said shaft through said gearing at relatively low speed, and, in another axially shifted position of i said sun gear, to connect said gearing and shaft 16 for unitary rotation with the housing at relatively high speed.

12. In a centerless grinding machine, a grinding wheel, a work feeding slide and a work control wheel mounted on said slide in peripherally opposed relation to the grinding wheel and means for supporting a work-piece between said wheels; an operating motor for the control wheel, a drive shaft for said wheel, axially spaced driven members rotatably journalled on said shaft, manually operable means to selectively establish a driving connection between said members and said shaft, means for driving said members at relatively different speeds including a common driving connection with said motor, hydraulically actuated infeeding mechanism operatively connected with said slide, an electrical control circuit for said mechanism, means for connecting said motor in said circuit at a predetermined point in the feeding movement of the slide to drive the control wheel at low speed by one of said members, an independent energizing circuit for said motor, switch means in said circuit, and means operatively connected with said manually operable means to actuate said switch means to circuit closing position when the other of said driven members is drivingly connected with the control wheel shaft to drive the control wheel at relatively high speed.

13. In a method of grinding a screw thread on a work-piece in a centerless grinding machine having an abrasive grinding wheel provided with thread grinding ribs and a peripherally opposed work control wheel forming a grinding throat; supporting a work piece in the grinding throat between said wheels and in contact with the periphery of the stationary control wheel, rotating the grinding wheel at relatively high speed, feeding the stationary control wheel toward the grinding wheel to establish contact of the workpiece with the thread grinding ribs and then rotating the control wheel at relatively low speed, and thereafter continuing the feeding movement of the relatively rotating control wheel and workpiece at progressively decreasing speed toward the grinding wheel for a distance substantially equal to the full depth of the thread grinding ribs.

14. In a machine organization having a tool. a reciprocabel slide and a work control member movably mounted on said slide, a work-piece support mounted between said tool and control member, an operating motor for said control member, power actuated mechanism operatively connected with said slide to move the same toward and from the tool, an electrical control system for said mechanism including a circuit, and a switch operatively controlled by said power actuated mechanism to connect said motor in said circuit and initiate operation of said work control member relative to the slide of a predetermined point on the unitary movement of said slide and member in work feeding direction.

15. In a machine organization as defined in claim 14, said mechanism including directly coacting, relatively movable elements for progressively decreasing the rate of feeding movement of the slide after contact of the work-piece with the tool.

16. ;A centerless grinding machine having peripherally opposed grinding and control wheels and a work support in the grinding throat between said wheels, an operating motor for the control wheel, and driving connections between said motor and the control wheel including differential gearing embodying relatively shiftable gear elements for selectively operating said gearing to drive the control wheel at a low speed for in-feed grinding of a work-piece or at a higher speed for through-feed grinding of a work-piece, and said driving connections comprising additional mechanism operable to drivingly connect said wheel with the motor independently of said differential gearing to drive said Wheel at a maximum dressing speed.

17. In a feed mechanism for machine tools, a work feeding slide, operating mechanism for said slide comprising a feed screw, a nut carried by the slide threadedly engaged with the screw to advance or retract the slide by relative manual rotation of the nut and feed screw, a power operated unit, and operating connections between said unit and feed screw including a reciprocable cylinder rotatably supporting said feed screw, mounting means for said cylinder in xed spaced relation from said slide and a device actuated by said power operated unit and coacting with mounting means.

CECIL W'. HOPKINS.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the iile of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,814,209 Einstein July 14, 1931 1,842,375 Einstein i- Jan. 26, 1932 1,998,603 Archea Apr. 23, 1935 2,101,383 Asbridge Dec. 7, 1937 2,113,367 Belden et al. Apr, 5, 1938 2,116,794 La Fleur May 10, 1938 2,364,300 Koplin et al. Dec. 5, 1944 2,427,283' Hopkins et al Sept. 9, 1947 2,448,551 Schroeder Sept. 7, 1948 

